Category Manager – Fragrances & Niche Brands

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic, commercially driven Category Manager to lead the growth and management of our prestigious fragrance portfolio, including international fragrance houses and exclusive niche brands, across retail and travel retail channels.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and strengthen relationships with existing prestigious fragrance houses, international brands, and niche partners, ensuring brand standards and commercial objectives are met.
• Identify and secure new partnerships with luxury perfume and niche fragrance brands, developing proposals and negotiating commercial terms.
• Oversee fragrance category strategy for duty‑free stores and Kenya Airways inflight duty‑free programme, aligning with passenger demographics and travel retail trends.
• Develop strategies to grow sales, gross margins and profitability, monitoring performance and preparing category reports.
• Coordinate product launches, sampling initiatives, promotional campaigns and staff training to ensure brand experience aligns with international standards.

Required profile

• Minimum 5 years of experience in category management, luxury beauty, fragrance or premium retail.
• Proven experience working directly with international brand owners or principals.
• Strong commercial negotiation, account management and business development skills.
• Understanding of luxury brand positioning, merchandising and retail execution.
• Experience in duty‑free, travel retail or airline inflight retail is a strong advantage.

Required skills

• Brand and account management
• Business development and negotiation
• Category strategy and performance analysis
• Retail merchandising and visual standards